Lancer512 Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 (edited) Hi there, I am trying to find a good color for the new RoG F-16A Solo Display, which is a pearl metallic orange. I was thinking about using automotive paint, but while searching, I found a lot of different shades of orange metallic nail polich popped up. I would imagine that the metallic flakes are much smaller than the flakes used in automotive paint. And cheaper! So my question is: Has anybody ever sucessfully airbrushed nail polish onto a model? AFAIK ModelMaster enamel is similar to the formulation that is used for nail polish. Edited June 28, 2014 by Lancer512 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mike C Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 Hmmm... why haven't I thought of that?? I'm pretty sure nail polish can be airbrushed. After all, I bought my current airbrush from an eBay seller that supplies nail polish/art supplies. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hawk10 Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 I haven't yet airbrushed fingernail polish but I would make a couple of suggestions. Since it appears that most of the modelers who do airbrush that particular medium, you might consider going on line to a model car forum and see if those folks can help you. You also might Google "Airbrushing fingernail polish" and/or "Thinning fingernail polish" HTH Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dragonlance Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 Lancer512, check out IPP paints on Hobby Easy. http://www.hobbyeasy.com/cgi-bin/i8_user_page.cgi?a=advance_search_result&page_size=10&page_number=1&keyword=ipp&category_code=LAC Got my Pearl White (for special marking Harrier Gr.7 tail) from them. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lancer512 Posted June 28, 2014 Author Share Posted June 28, 2014 ... you might consider going on line to a model car forum and see if those folks can help you. Wow! I wasn't aware of that. The first couple of searches let me to Youtube and basically I am set. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dnl42 Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 Yes, interesting stuff; it's apparently not uncommon with car models. One of the youtube videos pointed to an enamel reducer from scalefinishes.com. I may try some with Model Master enamels, Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lancer512 Posted June 28, 2014 Author Share Posted June 28, 2014 (edited) One of the youtube videos pointed to an enamel reducer from scalefinishes.com. I may try some with Model Master enamels, Yea, I tried this right after I posted my last post. I used MM thinner. Big mistake: It globbed up the nail polish. So I used straight acetone for thinning, instead. Others use nitrocellulose thinners. BTW: In all the videos on Youtube they use an extrnal mixing airbrush, like the Paasche H. For a good reason: The metal particles clog up your airbrush nozzle fast. :bandhead2:/> Edited June 28, 2014 by Lancer512 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nmRoberto Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 Ya also might go to a nail salon and ask what they use. I'm pretty sure they spray on nail polish, not that I've had it done but my daughter does. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lancer512 Posted June 28, 2014 Author Share Posted June 28, 2014 (edited) Worked good with acetone, but I guess I will test each new color for compatibility with the reducer/thinner. Surprisingly, the acetone did not attack the plastic of my freshly stripped 1/72 scale Airfix F-16, which I built 26 years ago: Now all I have to do is to have to find that particular color for the Orange Viper. Not an easy task with about 20,000 different shades of reds and oranges. Using nail polish on aircraft models is really exiting for me, as I just learned how to do colored metallic designs on business jets. Hmm where is that golden RoG 737-800 kit? Edited June 28, 2014 by Lancer512 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Just4kiks Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 Did you use primer over that or is that just bare plastic? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GEH737 Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 A friend of mine has had spectacular results using nail polish and "nail polish thinner" - that he got from "Sally Beauty Supply". He sprayed it over a coat of Tamiya primer, then thinned the mixture to pretty standard model paint viscosity. The finish was awesome - he did use micro-mesh sanding pads to really bring out the gloss. The finish was mirror smooth - rock hard - fingerprint free, and according to him - relatively easy to apply. I bought some of the same supplies - just haven't had the need yet. He's done it a few times - so it's pretty easy to accomplish. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lancer512 Posted June 28, 2014 Author Share Posted June 28, 2014 (edited) Did you use primer over that or is that just bare plastic? That was over bare plastic. It appears a little darker as compared to what's visible in the bottle. I guess I'll have to prime black and white/silver to see if it makes any difference. Oh, and that dried nail polish resistes enamel thinner, so I am not sure what the chemical composition of the enamel reducer from scalefinishes.com actually is. According to the videos, if you sand with 4000 grit (Micromesh?) before the final color coat, you will get avery smooth finish. Edited June 28, 2014 by Lancer512 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lancer512 Posted August 6, 2014 Author Share Posted August 6, 2014 (edited) The same Model, stripped again. I used it as a test model to see how different paint/thinner combinations turn out on the wings. The wings are painted FS 36118. I am using potassium hydroxide based oven cleaner for paint stripping. Works like a charm! Then I saw this blue metallic nail polish today while shopping with the wife... One fuselage side primed with silver... ...the other side primed with gloss black. F-16 "Phantom Pharewell" style... On the black paint it was really hard to see any of the blue. It took several thick coats. Nice effect, but not what I was looking for. Edited August 6, 2014 by Lancer512 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lancer512 Posted August 6, 2014 Author Share Posted August 6, 2014 A friend of mine has had spectacular results using nail polish and "nail polish thinner" I got some ethlyacetate today, which is the main ingredient of nail polish. I have to try that and compare it to the other suff I used, which is a blend of butylacetate, naphta and some polymer which acts as a hardener, I'ld guess. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TonyA Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 I've used lacquer thinner with the nail polishes I've used. DuPont, Mr Color, Tamiya; they've all worked fine. I can remember a couple folks over the years that have had the nail polish they were trying gum up with lacquer thinner but I've never had a problem. My favorite gloss clearcote is Rimmel 60 Seconds gloss nail polish. It's perfectly clear, stays that way and is hard as nails. Some nail polishes require several coats to build up color. Tony Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 I've done allot of custom Hot Wheels with airbrushed FNP, I agree with Tony, lacquer thinner works great. I usually went with a 50/50 ratio. Lots of great colors to be had with the finger nail polishes. I've even used the color changing varieties ... -Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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